The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1887-03-31
A Doctors Triumph.
(F|om the Philadelphia Rccora.)

awakened more interest on me part OF
physicians than the system of treatment
of phthisis which is now being given q
trial at the Philadelphia Hospital by
Physician.ir. Chief T. N. Mclaughlin,
assisted by Drs. E. T. Bruen and R. A..
Taylor. This treatment, which is simply
rectal injections of carbonic acid gas, is
not original with DR.. Mclaughlin,
although he is the first to give it trial
in this country, but is the result Of
experiments made years ago by Claude
Bernard, an eminent French physician.
DR.. Bernard experimental with lower
animals and found that gases which were
poisonous when inhaled produced no
Injurious results when introduced into
the intestines. Beyond this point his
investigations were not carried but q
few years ago Professor Bergeron of
Lyons commenced a series ofexpeIiments
to ascertain the effects of various gases
thus introduced into the human system.
In the course of his Investigations he
found that certain gases applied through
the rectu1n produced marked results in
persons suffering from phthisis or con-
sumption. Before announcing this dis
covery he made it the subject Of careful
study for two years, experimenting upon
numerous patients, and not only found
that carbonic acid gas, when properly
introduced into the intestines, had a
beneficial effect upon the patient, but
also had the satisfaction of efecting a
permanent cure in several cases of con.
sumption. Last August Professor Ber-
geron embodied the results of his inves.
LEGATIONS in a paper, which was read
before the Academy Of Sciences in Paris.
His discovery was received with incre.
dulity by many and with ridicule by
more, but the physicians in the Paris
hospitals began experiments in the line
indicated by Professor Bergeron with
results similar to those obtained by him.
A few months ago DR.. Mclaughlin
read of the marvellous accomplishments
Of the French physicians, and determined
to make test of the system in the
treatment of some of the patients under
his charge. Accordingly be prepared
the necessary apparatus, and asked
number of patients in the advanced
stages of phthisis if they we're willing to
undergo the treatment, being assured
that it would not be in the least harmful,
and might prove very beneficial. At
first only a few Of the more aggravated
sufferers availed themselves of the treat.
ment, but as the wonderful result became
manifest many others requested to be
placed under the same treatment. On
the 10th day of February and the few
days following all other medical treat
ment of the subjects was entirely stopped
and no remedy but carbonic acid gas was
administered.
The method of administering the gas is
very simple, and when properly followed
produces no pain in the patient and but
little inconvenience. The apparatus
used by Drs. Mclaughlin, Bruen and
Taylor is exceedingly simple, consisting
of rubber gas bag of capacity of foul
or FIVE gallons and Woulf bottle, suc&
as is used by chemists for washing O.
saturating gases, and the necessary con
nections of rubber tubing. The flask il
filled with hot water bearing in solution
sodium chloride and sodium sulphide il
the proportion of FIVE grains of each tt
twenty.four ounces of water. The rubbe
bag is filled with gaseous carbonic aci'
and connected by tubing with the bottl
in such way that pressure upon tn
bag will force its contents through tn
liquid and thence through rubber itte'
with syringe tube. By pressure upol
the bag the gas is forced into the intes
tines. The pressure is carefully regu
lated so as not to produce any pain in tn
patient, and the whole operation last
but ten to twenty minutes.
The treatment of the chosen patient
has been continued regularly since Feb
ruary 10, from one to five pints Of tn
gas being administered to each subjee
twice daily, and with results thus far bu
little short of miraculous. One of tn
most interesting cases is that of ma
about 4S years of age, who has been sic
for about nineteen months. On Februs
ry 10, when he was put under the gs
treatment, he was so weak .as to b
unable to turn in bed, and 80 emaciate
that his bones nearly protruded throug
his skin. BE was unable to retain nou
ishment of any sort, was continual
covered with a cold, clammy perspir'
ton, and had an almost incessant cougl
which caused intense pain in his ches
He was so far gone that the physician
said he would not live forty-e!ght hour
When seen yesterday, after six week
treatment, he sat up in bed and said th'
he had been up and about the ward, ar
that he had not had sweat for tn
weeks. His appetite was good, he aai
, and his food caused him no trouble. E
rested we'll at night, his cough hs
almost entirely disappeared, and with
the pains in his chest.
Another interesting case is that OF
, man who has been suffering fro
phthisis for two years and had. bet
under treatment in the hospital for thr
months, during which time he had n
left his bed. His general symptoms we
t similar 10 those of the patient abo
? mentioned. Gas was first administer
r to him on February 13. One mon
. later he walked down three flights
3 stairs to be weighed, and climbed back
i. his ward afterward. After another we